Dear Judie, For years now, I have had very severe hormonal cystic acne. My doctor and I have pretty much exhausted every other treatment option but the birth control pill. Would this treatment go directly against my Catholic faith? I am not married and not dating. I wanted to ask my pastor, but felt uncomfortable going to him on this issue. Thanks, Dana

Dear Dana

I shared your question with Dr Anthony Dardano and this is his response:

The birth control pill has had some success in treating severe acne and could be a treatment option in a case such as you describe. First let me say that the birth control pill in itself is a drug not without some serious side effects such as abnormal blood clotting, stroke, high blood pressure, etc., which would require monitoring by a physician who is well familiar with the drug.

The birth control pill may be ethically used in the celebrate woman since the immoral side of contraception and abortifacient effects are not an issue and therefore the therapy in your case would not be against our Catholic faith.

May God bless you for your good intentions.

Anthony N Dardano, MD, FACOG, FACS

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